diff --git a/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.cpp b/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.cpp
index 14968fceb6..640c9821a0 100755
--- a/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.cpp
@@ -2305,7 +2305,11 @@ void MyAvatar::initHeadBones() {
         neckJointIndex = _skeletonModel->getFBXGeometry().neckJointIndex;
     }
     if (neckJointIndex == -1) {
-        return;
+        neckJointIndex = (_skeletonModel->getFBXGeometry().headJointIndex - 1);
+        if (neckJointIndex < 0) {
+            // return if the head is not even there. can't cauterize!!
+            return;
+        }
     }
     _headBoneSet.clear();
     std::queue<int> q;
diff --git a/libraries/avatars-renderer/src/avatars-renderer/SkeletonModel.cpp b/libraries/avatars-renderer/src/avatars-renderer/SkeletonModel.cpp
index de8c02f10e..1ec58fd704 100644
--- a/libraries/avatars-renderer/src/avatars-renderer/SkeletonModel.cpp
+++ b/libraries/avatars-renderer/src/avatars-renderer/SkeletonModel.cpp
@@ -294,6 +294,15 @@ bool SkeletonModel::getEyeModelPositions(glm::vec3& firstEyePosition, glm::vec3&
         firstEyePosition = baseEyePosition + headRotation * glm::vec3(EYE_SEPARATION, 0.0f, EYES_FORWARD) * headHeight;
         secondEyePosition = baseEyePosition + headRotation * glm::vec3(-EYE_SEPARATION, 0.0f, EYES_FORWARD) * headHeight;
         return true;
+    } else if (getJointPosition(geometry.headJointIndex, headPosition)) {
+        glm::vec3 baseEyePosition = headPosition;
+        glm::quat headRotation;
+        getJointRotation(geometry.headJointIndex, headRotation);
+        const float EYES_FORWARD_HEAD_ONLY = 0.30f;
+        const float EYE_SEPARATION = 0.1f;
+        firstEyePosition = baseEyePosition + headRotation * glm::vec3(EYE_SEPARATION, 0.0f, EYES_FORWARD_HEAD_ONLY);
+        secondEyePosition = baseEyePosition + headRotation * glm::vec3(-EYE_SEPARATION, 0.0f, EYES_FORWARD_HEAD_ONLY);
+        return true;
     }
     return false;
 }